Practicing b&w using curves - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/22/2006 05:01:50 PM · #1

I went out today to get some shots to practice b&w convertion with curves. Prior to this all I did was greyscale and adjust contrast a bit. I sure like this method better. Any comments or suggestions are, as always, very much welcome. Thanks!

keone

Canon EOS-5D

02/22/2006 05:16:59 PM · #2

I think your technique is working. Those B&W conversions look great. I would be interested to know your processing method.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/22/2006 05:28:36 PM · #3

OOOPS, my mistake. Not curves, but, color channels. Sorry about any confusion.

I was digging through the boards last night and found this posted by Bear Music. It was simple and to the point.

"
by Bear Music...

To make a B/W image using color channels in Photoshop:

1. Open color image
2. In Layers pallette, click "channels" tab at top and view each channel indvidually by turning the others off. Decide which of the three channels (R, G, or B) is closest to your desired result.
3. Go to image/adjustments/channel mixer
4. Check "monochrome" box lower left
5. Be sure "output channel" at top is "gray"
6. Play with the sliders to adjust the relative inputs of the red, green and blue channels

As a rule of thumb, the TOTAL percentages should be 100%. An all-red-channel conversion, which is what I used on this image, is 100% red and 0% green and blue. Sometimes one of the other channels is the best one, sometimes a mix of all 3 gives the best results, or 2 of the 3. You might have 80% red, 20% blue, 0% green, whatever.

This is your B/W conversion. If you want to use Photoshop's "duotone" mode, you will need to to take this red-channel conversion and...

1. Go to image/mode and select "grayscale".
2. Click OK when it asks about discarding color information.
3. Go to image/mode and select duotone.
4. click each of the color swatches in turn and select the base colors for your duotone: in this case, it was black and a warmish brown color. It could be anything.

In both scenarios, the converted images can be further adjusted with levels, curves, brightness/contrast before or after duotoning, although in this case I just blitzed through and did no adjusting, only converting.

Hope this helps...

Robt.
"

johnmk

Ricoh Caplio RR1

02/22/2006 05:39:57 PM · #4

Even more simple: download
//www.biphotoclub.org/DISG%20Archive/2002-10.PDF
and install the 3 digidaan ps channelmixers.
The pdf explains it all.
Good luck.

02/22/2006 07:22:15 PM · #5

Originally posted by johnmk:

Even more simple: download
//www.biphotoclub.org/DISG%20Archive/2002-10.PDF
and install the 3 digidaan ps channelmixers.
The pdf explains it all.
Good luck.

Thanks, i'll give that a shot.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

02/22/2006 07:39:12 PM · #6

Here's another way to convert to b & w: Greg Gorman (click 'LEARN')

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/22/2006 08:09:05 PM · #7

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Here's another way to convert to b & w: Greg Gorman (click 'LEARN')

Hah! Feeling a little PS challenged at the moment. I'm using PS 5 and I'm not so sure this method works in that version, or if it does, uses different inputs? I'm trying. :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

02/22/2006 08:41:54 PM · #8

Originally posted by blurbayou:

Originally posted by zeuszen:
Here's another way to convert to b & w: Greg Gorman (click 'LEARN')

Hah! Feeling a little PS challenged at the moment. I'm using PS 5 and I'm not so sure this method works in that version, or if it does, uses different inputs? I'm trying. :)

If you can email me the PDF I'll check it out -- I use PS 5 also ...